Heating system



C. SCHWARTZ.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5.1916.

1,369,710. Patented Feb;22,1921.

QSHEETS-SHEET I.

1 g H g T I w m "a 6] vwemfoz C. SCHWARTZ.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, I916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921..

C. SCHWARTZ.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION-FILED AUG.5.1916.

L fi fiwn Patented Feb.22,1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET s. I F1139 G3 a T s' 8' Slave mic:

f 1 his anew/Mew C'. SCHWARTZ.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION men AUG.5, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- stares OFFIQE.

CARL SCHWARTZ, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO VAPOR CAR HEAT- ING COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HEATING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed August 5, 1916. Serial No. 113,314.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, CARL ScHwARTz, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, (who has forsworn his allegiance to said country and has taken an oath declaring his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) and a resident of New Rochelle, county of \Vestchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heating Systems, (Case A,) of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to steam heating systems and particularly systems which are employed for the heating of cars. The object of the invention is to construct a system whereby a comparatively uniform temperature within the car or compartment to be heated will be maintained. This is accomplished by regulating the flow of steam to the system.

As illustrating the manner in which the invention may be realized, reference is made to the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a compartment provided with the improved heating system.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the heating system shown in Fig. 1 to a railroad car. In Fig. 2, however, there is shown a plurality of the systems illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a thermostat which is employed in each of the heating systems shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view of a magnetically controlled valve that is. employed in each of the heating systems shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view of a regulator which is employed in each of the.

systems shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The radiator or heat radiating element is designated by R in the system shown in Fig. 1 and also in each of the systems shown in Fig. 2. The radiator R receives steam from the main source of supply, as from the train pipe T P in-Fig. 2, through a branch pipe or radiator supply pipe S, and the flow of steam through this supply pipe to the radiator is controlled by the valve V. The steam, vapor,'moisture or liquid from the radiator passes to the atmosphere through the discharge piping D, having at or near the terminal thereof a regulator A. This regulator A, as will be seen from the inspection of Fig. 5, comprises a casing. 1 having therein a compartment 2, through which the steam, vapor and liquid must pass on its way from the system. This regulator, as will hereinafter more fully appear, comprises an element 3, which causes the actuationof a switch arm 96 that can be moved to close a circuit which includes the terminals 5 and 6 of the conductors 5 and 6 respectively, which are in an electric circuit C, see Figs. 1 and 2. The switch which comprises the switch arm 96 is designated by the reference characters RS and may be referred to as the regulator switch because it is actuated by and is under the control of the regulator A. The circuit C also includes the magnet M that controls the valve V. In this circuit the conductor 5 extends from the source of electrical energy E to one of the switch members ofthe regulator switch BS. The conductor 6 extends from the other switch member of the regulator switch RS to the magnet M. The circuit C also comprises a conductor 7, which extends from the magnet M back to the source of electrical energy E. In the conductor 7 there is a hand-operated switch H that is closed when'the system is in use.

The compartment in Fig. 1 which is heated by the radiator R, is indicated by the broken line X, X X and X In this compartment there is located a thermostat T which is susceptible to variations in temperature of the air within the compartment. This thermostat T comprises the thermostatic element 31 and a switch TS controlled thereby. The switch T'S may be referred to as the thermostat switch and when closed completes the circuit C, as will hereafter appear.

One side of the switch TS is connected by the conductor 8 to the conductor 5, while the other side is connected by the conductor 9 to the conductor 6. I

From what has preceded it will be manifest that the following elements are utilized in each of the systems shown, (a) a radiator R, (b) an electrically controlled valve V, (c) a regulator A that is dependent for its operation upon the outgoing steam or vapor which is delivered from the system, and

(el) a thermostat T that is susceptible to the variations in temperature of the air in the compartment being heated.

Thermostat;

Tn Fig. 3 there is illustrated a form of thermostat which can be employed in the present system. This thermostat comprises any suitable base orframe member B upon which there is pivotally mounted at 32 a thermostatic element 31. This thermostatic element 31 is a ill-shaped tube having therein a volatile liquid, for instance, a liquid which will boil at a low temperature. Une end of the tube is normally maintained in place by means of a spring 33, one end of which is connected to an arm 34 on the tube, and the other end to a member 35. The member 35 v is an ear which extends from a member 36 that is secured in any suitable manner to the frame or base B. The member 36 has also screw-threaded openings 37 which receive a screw 38. This screw 38 serves as a means for adjusting the position of the U-shaped tube 31. The outer or free end 39 of the U-shaped tube 31 is connected by means of a link 40 to the free end of an arm 41 of the bell crank lever 42. This bell crank lever is pivotally mounted at 43 upon the base 15. The other arm 44 of this lever has at the free end thereof a pin 45 which slides in a slot in the outer end of an arm 46 of the switch arm 47. This switch arm is pivoted at 48 upon the base B, and the lower free end thereof can be moved from the full line open position shown, to the left to a circuit closing position as indicated by the dotted lines. When the circuit is closed the lower end 49 engages a stationary contact or fixed switch member 50. When the switch arm 47 is in the dotted line position of Fig. 3,the circuit C is completed through the conductor 8, having the terminal 8', a stationary conducting member 51 (the member upon which the contact or movable switch member 47 is pivotally mounted), the switcharm47, the stationary contact 50, the conductor 9 having the terminal 9', etc.

There is also provided in the construction 7 shown in Fig. 3 a spring 52, one end of which is connected at or adjacent to the lower end of the movable contact member 47 and the' other end of which is connected to the fixed member 51. lVhen the parts are in the full line position shown in Fig. 3, the spring normally maintains the movable contact member 47 in open position. When, however, the U-shaped member 31 expands a sufiicient amount, it will be manifest that the upper end of the member 41 will be moved to the left, causing an upward movement of the right hand end of the member 44 and a corresponding upward movement of the left hand end of the member 46 and a resulting movement of the lower end 49 of the switch arm 47 to the left. A slight movement of the switch arm 47 to the left will cause the center line of the spring 52 to pass from one side of the pivotal point 48 to the other side, the spring 52 then effecting a quick closing of the switch TS. Likewise when the U-shaped tube 31 contracts due to a fall in temperature, the spring 52 can operate to effect a quick opening. This spring also serves as a means to hold or maintain the movable contact member in either its opened position or closed position, thus preventing any fiickering due to a vibratory action which might otherwise exist if this spring were not employed.

A spring 53 having one end 54 connected to the bell-crank-lever 42 and the other end 55 connected to the base B. is employed to take up any backlash or play between the different parts which are connected to gether. This spring acts in opposition to the Ushaped tube and tends to normally maintain the movable contact member 49 in open position except at such times as the tension of the spring is overcome when the end 39 of the U-shaped member is moved to the left.

Electrically controlled valve.

-V in both Figs. 1 and 2. This valve has a casing 61 that is provided with partition members 62, 63 and 64. These partitions divide the interior into compartments a, b and c, which may be referred to as initial compartment a, intermediate compartment 7) and final compartment 0. The only communication from the compartment a to the compartment 1) is through the passageway or opening 65, which is opened and closed by the pilot valve 66.

An unbalanced valve member 67 is slidably mounted in a valve seat member 68. The member 68 is located in the casing 61 and is held in place by means ofthe screw connection 69. A steam-tight joint exists at 69 and also at 64' between the lower end of the valve seat member 68 and the partition 64. A chamber or auxiliary compartment (l is provided at the upper end above the valve 67 and steam can flow from the chamber 5 to the chamber d through the passageway 70 when a hand-controlled plug valve 71 is open or partially open. The valve 71 is shown in partially open position in Fig. 4.

When the pilot valve 66 is opened, steam can flow through the opening or passage way 65 into the chamber 7), thence through the passageway 70 (if the valve 71 is open) into the chamber d. When full pressure is in the chamber (5 it acts against the upper side of the larger member 67 and overcomes the pressure that acts against the under side per or open position.

of the smaller member f, and consequently even though the unbalanced valve member 67 is in its upper or closed position, it will be forced downwardly, whereby steam can flow from the chamber a through the space 72 between the member f and its seat through the openings 7 3 in the seat member 68 into the chamber 0, from which it flows through the discharge portion 75 of the casing. The valve member 67 remains in its open or lower position as long as the valve 66, which may be referred to as a pilot valve, is in its raised position, but as soon as the pilot valve 66 is closed, the supply of steam to the chamber 0? is cut off and the result is the spring 76 and the pressure of steam on the under side of the member f will cause valve member 67 to move upwardly, whereby the member f will engage its seat and thus cut ofi the supply of steam which is passing from the chamber a to the chamber 0, in other words, closing the valve V, which is the valve shown in Fig. 4.

The pilot valve 66 has a stem 78. This stem 78 is slidably mounted at one end in a bushing 79 and at its lower end in a bushing 80. The lower end of the bushing 79 is screwed into an annular member 81, which in turn is screwed into the casing 61 of the valve. The bushing 80 is screwed into the lower end of the bushing 79. A compression spring 82 surrounds the valve stem 78. The lower end of the compression spring is seated upon the bushing 80, and the other end of the compression spring engages a ring or collar 83 that is secured to the valve stem 7 8. This spring is of sufiicient strength to normally maintain the valve 66 in its up- The annular mem ber 81, or base member of the magnet as said member 81 may be called, has the lower, open end of a cartridge-shell-shaped member 84 secured thereto so as to make a steamtight joint between the two members. The shell-shaped member 84 is preferably secured in place by means of the threaded jointindicated at 85 and in order to insure that this joint be steam-tight, the lower end of the shell-shaped member 84 may be rolled, somewhat in the manner that boiler tubes are rolled in the making of steam-tight joints.

Within the shell-shaped member 84 there is located the core or plunger 86. On the exterior of this shell-shaped member there is a magnet coil 87. When energized this magnet coil 87 forces the core 86 downwardly, whereby it will cause the pilot valve 66 to assume its closed position. After the magnet coil 87 is in place, it can be covered or protected by means of a casing 88, which has a screw connection at 89 to the annular member 81. The conductors leading to the magnet pass through the plug or insulated portion 90. It will thus be manifest that the magnet 87 is inclosed in a moisture-proof casing. It will also be noted from an inspection ofFig. 4 that this magnet can be readily removed from place without disturbing the valve or the mechanism associated therewith. The core 86 actuates the valve when the magnet is energized by pressing downwardly against the valve stem 7 8. It will also be observed that while the core and the parts actuated by the core are all exposed to the steam which can pass along the valve stem, that the construction is such as to prevent any steam from entering the space in which the magnet is located. The magnet can be removed from place, as above indicated, while the valve 66 is open and while the steam is passing through the casing 61.

From what has preceded, it will be observed that the pilot valve 66 is a magnetically controlled valve and that this pilot valve in turn controls the opening and closing of the main valve, to wit: the unbalanced valve member 67. Consequently, the main valve 67 may be referred to as a magnetically or electrically cont-rolled .valve, since it is indirectly under the control of the magnet M, which comprises the coil 87.

A strainer s is also provided at the inlet side of the valve so as to prevent sediment entering the valve.

The regulator.

The regulatoris shown in Fig. 5 and, as previously indicated, comprises a casing 1, provided with a chamber 2 through which the steam or vapor delivered from the system must pass prior to leaving the system. in this regulator there is a thermal element 3 which is susceptible to temperature variations and when the outgoing vapor is relatively cold, the thermal member 3 contracts. When, however, hot steam or relatively hot vapor is passing through the regulator, it engages the thermal element 3 and causes an expansion thereof. As the member 3 expands, it forces a rod 91 upwardly. This rod 91 engages the under side of the flexible diaphragm 92 that is clamped in place between the exterior of the casing 1 and the member 93. Some steam can pass from the interior of the compartment 2 along the rod 91 into the space 9 between the diaphragm and the exterior portion of the casing 1, but as a steam-tight joint is provided between the diaphragm 92 and the exterior of the casing, no steam can pass beyond the joint'h. A cover is secured as by means of the screws 95 to the casing l and within this cover there is located the switch BS. The electric switch RS comprises a movable switch arm 96, which is pivotally mounted at 97 upon a screw 99 that is carried by the member 93. The free end 98 of this switch arm can be moved from its lower or full line open position upwardly to the position indicated by the dotted lines where it engages a fixed contact 100. The free end 98 is a contact portion which is insulated at 98 from the rest of the contact member 96.. When the -end or contact portion 98 is in engagement with the fixed contact 100, the circuit C comprising the line 5 (having the terminal 5') and the line 6 (having the terminal 6) is closed. A member 101 is pivotally mounted at 97 upon the screw 99 and the member 101 is actuated from the diaphragm by the memher 102. A spring 103 is connected at one end to the member 101 and at the other end to the member 96. When the parts are in the full line position indicated in Fig. 5, this spring is normally maintaining the movable contact 96 in its open position. When, however, the thermal member 3 expands, it forces the member 101 upwardly so as to occupy the dotted line position. The result is, the center line of the spring, which is the center line of force between the points to where the spring is connected, passes from below the center of the pivotal connection 97 to above the center. The spring will now pull the movable contact member 96 from the full line position to the dotted line position,-thus effecting a quick closing of the switch. \Vhen the member 101 is moved from its dotted position to its lower or full line position, it will effect a quick opening of the switch. The spring arrangement as shown also prevents any flickering as it prevents any objectionable vibrating of the movable contact member 96.

A spring 104 normally presses against the exterior of the thermal element 3. The thermal element 3 is maintained in position by three equally spaced brackets or supports 105 that are on the casing. The position of the thermal member 3'toward and from the diaphragm 92 can be regulated by means of 'the adjusting screw 106 that passes through a screw-threaded opening 107 in the casing. This adjusting screw is locked in place by means of a lock nut 108.

The steam, vapor or other fluid which passes through the chamber 2 of the regulator enters at the opening 109 and passes out of the opening 110 in the direction indicated by the arrows y and The arrows 3 indi: cate the manner in which vapor or steam passes the thermal element 3, Whereas the arrows y indicate the manner in which water of condensation flows through the regulator. In other words, the steam or vapor directly engages the thermal element 3, whereas the water passes under the thermal element 3 without directly engaging said thermal element. The opening 109 is screwthreaded so as to receive the threaded end of the pipe D. In opening 110 a drain pipe D is screwed. This pipe D may be considered a drain pipe or it may be considered meat i0 as a part of the discharge pipe D. It will therefore be seen that theregulator A may be considered to constitute a part of the discharge piping D, or it may be considered to be a member located at the end of the discharge piping D.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated the manner in which the system shown in Fig. 1 can be applied to a car. in said Fig. 2 the usual train pipe is designated by TP. It is well known that in commercial practice the pressure of the steam in the train pipe varies and that the pressure of the steam the right and left, the branch or supply pipes S. In each of the branch or supply pipes there is located the magnetically controlled valve V. In each pipe S there is also located a hand valve HV which can be employed to prevent the flow of steam through the pipe to a radiator. During the normal operation of each of the systems shown in Fig. 2 the hand valve is open, whereby the valve V, which is magnetically controlled, can automatically regulate the amount of steam which is supplied to its corresponding radiator.

When the system, which is the basis of the present invention, is in operation a hand-operated switch H is closed and when this switch is closed, the switch TS, to wit: the switch controlled by the thermostat T, or the switch ES, to wit: the switch controlled by the regulator A,- can be closed so as to complete the circuit C. When the circuit C is completed by the closing of either the switch TS, or the switch RS, the

magnet M of the valve V is energized, thus causing a closing of the valve V, by moving the main valve member 67 to closed position, and shutting off the supply of steam to the radiator until the switch .TS and the switch RS are both open.

lit will be manifest that the invention and it may be broadly referred to as a movable or operating element, as a part of it moves when it functions or operates; it

is under the direct influence of some function of the heating medium. In the regulator shown in Fig. 5 the element 3 is at the discharge end of the system and is subject to the temperature function of the steam, vapor or condensation that directly contacts with it. If the regulator were made so as to be dependent for its opera: tion upon the pressure of the steam then a member such as'the diaphragm 92 might be considered as a movable or operating element located at the discharge end of the system and subject to the pressure function of the steamv directly contacting with the diaphragm.

In the broader contemplation of the invention, either the temperature function or the pressure function of the steam or a combination of both might be employed to directly influence the movable or operating element, but in the more specific aspect of the invention the temperature function is employed and the operating element is in the form of a thermostat located .so as to be under the direct influence of the heating medium as it leaves the heating system.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heating apparatus, the combination with a pipe adapted to contain steam at relatively high pressures, of a radiator located in a compartment to be heated, said radiator communicating with said pipe and having an outlet open to the atmosphere, a controlling valve arrangedbetween said pipe and radiator for controlling the flow of steam from the former to the latter, a spring which tends to hold said valve in its open position, a thermostat in said compartment directly influenced by the changes of temperature of the atmosphere therein, a thermostat arranged to be directly influenced by temperature conditions of the medium in said radiator, an electro-magnetic device for closing said control valve against said spring, and switch devices adapted to be closed by the expansion of said thermostats respectively; said switch devices being arranged in independent circuits, each of which includes said magnet.

2. In a heating apparatus, the combination with a pipe for conveying a heating medium, of a radiator located in a compartment to be heated and communicating with said pipe, an electrically operated normally open controlling valve arranged between said pipe and radiator for controlling the flow of heating medium from the former to the latter, circuits for said valve, a thermostat in the said compartment directly influenced by changes of temperature in the atmosphere therein, a thermostat arranged to be directly influenced by temperature conditions of the heating medium in said radziator, and switches adapted to be closed by the expansion of said-thermostats respectively for controlling the circuits to said valve.

3. In a heating apparatus, the combination with a pipe for conveying a heating medium, of a radiator located in acompartment to be heated and communicating with said pipe, an electrically operated normally open main valve for controlling the flow of heating medium from the said pipe to the radiator, circuits for said valve, a thermostat at the discharge side of the radiator and influenced directly by temperature conditions of the heating medium in the radiator, a thermostat in the compartment to be heated influenced by temperature conditions in the said compartment, and switches controlled by said thermostats respectively for controlling the circuits to said valve.

4. 'In a heating apparatus, the combination with a pipe for conveying a heating medium, of a radiator located in a compartment to be heated and communicating with said pipe, an electrically operated normally open main valve forcontrolling the flow of heating medium from said pipe to the radiator, a thermostat influenced by temperature conditions of the heating medium in the radiator for controlling a circuit to said valve, and a thermostat influenced by temperature conditions within the said compartment for controlling a second circuit in parallel with the circuit first mentioned.

5. In a heating apparatus, the combination with a pipe for conveying a heating medium, of a radiator located in a compartment to be heated and communicating with said pipe, an electrically operated normally open main valve for controlling the flow of heating medium from the said pipe to the radiator, a circuit for said valve including power supplying means and a switch, a thermostat expanded under the action of the heating medium in the radiator to close said switch and thereby close said valve, a thermostat in the said compartment influenced by temperature conditions in the compartment to be heated and a switch controlled thereby to close a second circuit in parallel with the first circuit to close a circuit to said valve.

6. In a heating apparatus the combination with a pipe for conveying a heating medium of a radiator located in a compartment to be heated, a supply pipe leading from said first named pipe to the radiator, an electrically controlled valve for controlling passage of the heating medium. through said supply pipe from the first named pipe, a regulator having therein a casing containing fluid susceptible to temperature variations and located so as to be subjected to the influence of fluid .passing from said radiator and through said regulator, a pipe leading from heated and a switch controlled by said therthe radiator to the regulator, an electric cirmostat,- said last-named switch being in the cuit for controlling the operation of said said circuit for the electrically controlled electrically controlled valve, a hand-opervalve.

5 ated switch in said circuit, an additional This specification signed and witnessed 15 switch for controlling said circuit and which this 3rd day of August, A. D. 1916. last-named switch is dependent for opera- CARL SCHWARTZ. tion upon the expansion and contraction of Signed in the resence ofthe fluid within said regulator casing, 21 EDWIN A. ACKARD,

10 thermostat within the compartment to be G. McGRANN. 

